Aditya-L1, India’s solar probe, will observe the impending complete solar eclipse from a special location in space. Although Aditya-L1 won’t be able to see the eclipse, it will nonetheless contribute important information about this cosmic event.
On April 8, observers from Space Aditya-L1, which is presently positioned at the L1 point, will be treated to a breathtaking glimpse of the solar eclipse. Since it will endure for an extraordinary four minutes—the longest in the previous five decades—this eclipse is very noteworthy. During this period, viewers on Earth will only be able to see the sun’s outer, ring-like structure due to the moon’s shadow covering it.
Tools in Use
Aditya-L1, outfitted with six advanced pieces of equipment, will concentrate its Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) and Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) on investigating the sun during this unique occasion. These tools will allow for in-depth observations of the obscured sun from Earth and space.
The Mission and Journey of Aditya-L1
Aditya-L1, which left the Satish Dhawan Space Research Centre on September 2 and travelled 1.5 million kilometres to reach the L1 point, accomplished its mission. Aditya-L1’s mission to study the sun will continue over the next five years, with a focus on tracking solar activity during eclipses.
Comprehending solar eclipses
When the moon and Earth line up with the sun and the moon’s shadow momentarily blocks out sunlight, a solar eclipse happens. But the eclipse that will occur on April 8 will be unique, as the sun will be totally hidden for four minutes—an occurrence that has generated a great deal of scientific attention.
In conclusion, the Aditya-L1 mission from India offers a unique chance to observe a long-duration solar eclipse from space, providing insights into this fascinating astronomical occurrence and deepening our knowledge of the sun’s behaviour during planetary alignments.
